Power unit



Nov. l2, 1946. E, E, HETTEEN 2,411,038

POWER UNIT Filed July 20, 1944 vveN-roe EDG/ne HE7-TEEN Patented Nov.12, 1946 OFFICE- POWER UNIT Edgar E. Hetteen, Roseau, Minn. ApplicationJuly 20, 1944, Serial No. 545,842

I (c1. 2541s6 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in power units andmore particularly to a portable power unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable power unitwhich is highly efficient and compact, .and which has a wide range ofuse.

A further object is to provide a small compact power unit utilizing aconventional automobile starter motor -as its source of power, which maybe electrically connected to a conventional automobile storagebatterywhereby the power unit may be mounted on a small truck or othervehicle and derive its power directly from the usual storage batterythereof, said starter motor comprising the usual Bendix drive foroperatively connecting the motor to the power transmitting means betweenthe motor and the hoisting drum. A further object is to provide a smallcompact power unit comprising a hoisting ydrum provided with a brakedrum at one end having a, brake band partially encircling the brakedrum, and a starter motor Abeing mounted on the support and having adriving connection with the hoisting drum, said driving connectionincluding an endless belt or chain, and a rock shaft being mounted onthe support and having an arm secured .theretoone end of which isconnected. to the brake band, and a second arm being secured .to therock shaft and having aroller mounted at its outer end having a runningconnection with a run of .the chain or belt whereby the Itension.therein` Will actuate` the rock shaft land automatically release thebrake band, when the chain is rotatingina direction toliftaload. I I

-Other `objects ofthe invention reside in the unique construction ofthebrake and its operating means; in the arrangementof the rock shaft andbrake band whereby the brake is automatically released each .time thehoisting drum is rotatedin a directionto lift -a load, and wherebywhenthe drive chain is slack, the brake` is automatically set; in theprovision of electrical means for swinging the brake lever into brakereleasing position; and, in the general arrangement of the various partsof the `mechanism whereby they cooperate to partially provide a highlyeicient power unit which is small and compact in size, and which readilylends itself for use on trucks, road working machinery, including snowplows, and the` like, for lifting or lowering the ground engaging toolsthereof, and which power unit may also beused in numerous otherplacesrequiring vthe use of a powerful hoist: llgilum j .n r Other-objects ofthe invention will `appear from the following description and theyaccompanying drawing and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawing there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exactlfeaturesshown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

In the drawing: A

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved power unit showing the lowerrun of the drive chain rotated in a direction to wind the cable onto thedrum and whereby the brake band is automatically released;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 with some of the parts omitted; and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View substantially on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, showing the brake band in braking engagement with the drum tocontrol the unwinding of the cable.

The novel power unit herein disclosed is shown comprising a suitablebase or support 2 which may be of any particular form and constructionapplicable for the purpose. V A

A suitable hoisting drum 3 is mounted on the base 2 at one end thereofand has a shaft 4 which may be rotatably mounted in suitable bearingpedestals 5 and 6 secured to the base 2. The hoisting drum 3 is shownprovided at one end with a brake drum 'l which is partially encircled bya conventional brake band 8 `having one end anchored to a fixed supportsuch as a pin 9 secured to the base 2. A suitable cable II is coiledabout the ho-isting drum 3 in the usual manner, as shown in Figures 1and 3. I

A brake lever I2 is secured to one end of a4 rock shaft I3, shownmounted in bearings I4 and i5 which, for. convenience, may be integrallycast with an upright bracket I B secured to the base 2. .To simplifyconstruction, the rock shaft I3 may lbe integrally formed with the brakelever, I2, as indicated in the drawing.

V.An arm Il is secured to the rock shaft I3 and has one end of aconnecting rod I8 pivotally connected thereto by a pin I9. The oppositeVend of the connecting rod `I8 is secured to the free end of the brakeband 8 as shown at 2 I.

Adjacent to the opposite end of the rock shaft I3 there is mounted anarm 22 which is disposed in opposed relation to the ar'm I'I. The arm 22is shown carrying a suitable roller 23 which engages t the lower run 24of a` chainor belt ."5'having secured to the hoisting drum 3, and asprocket pinion 2'I secured to one end of a countershaft 28. A suitablespring 29 is sho-wn having one end connected to the brake lever I2 andits opposite end to a fixed support such as the bracket 6. The spring 29constantly urges the brake lever I2 in a direction to set the brake band8.

The countershaft 28 is shown mounted in suitable bearings 3| and 32which may be integrally formed with the bearing bracketv I3. A spur gear33 is secured to the countershaft 23 and constantly meshes with a pinion34 of a conventional Bendix drive, indicated by the numeral 35 in Figure2. The Bendix pinion h34 is operatively connected to the usual driveshaft of a conventional automobile starter motor, generally designatedby the numeral 36 in Figures 1 and 2. Thev starter motor 36 and Bendixdrive 35 are well known in the art, and it is therefore deemedunnecessary to herein illustrate the same in detail.

Means is preferably provided forrelectrically re-` leasing the brakeband 8, when desired, ahdmay consist of a suitable solenoid-actuateddevice, generally designated by the numeral 3l. This device is shownhaving a reciprocallymounted armature or member 38 projecting from oneend thereof. The armature 3,8 has one end of a flexible connection 39secured thereto whose opposite end is connected to the brake lever I2 asshown. The solenoid actuated drive 37 may be mounted upon a suitablebracket 6I secured to the base 2, and is provided with a, suitableelectric control circuit, not shown, having a connection with a suitablesource of electric power such as the conventional storage battery of atruck or an automobile, or with some other source of low voltage`current supply.

The novel power unit hereindisclosed has been found particularly usefulon vsmall trucks wherein it may be utilizedA in connection with hoistingapparatus. It hasvalso been found extremely practical on numerous typesof road working equipment because of its simplicity and compactness, andalso because it maybe operated directly from the usual storage batteryof the truck or vehicle at low cost. g. j

While I` have herein referred to the motor as being a conventionalautomobile starter motor, in some instances it may be found desirable touse some other form of low voltage motor suitable for tlfle'purpose.vAlso, if the hoist is to be permanently located ina fixed position inv abuilding, a conventional motor may be employed whereby it maybeconnected in the usual power or lighting circuits of the building.

The roller 23 secured to the arm`22 of the rock shaft I3 is so relatedto the lower run 24 of the chain 25, that when the chain is rotatedfinthe direction indicatedby the arrows in Figure 1, as when winding thecable II onto the Vhoisting drum 3, the'ten'sion in *theV lower run 24 of the chain will cause the chain to swing the arm 22 downs Wardlythereby to rotate the rock shaft AIll in a vdfirection to release thebrake band 8 from the brake drum yl. When the cable II is being'unwoundfrom the hoisting .drum 3 the lower run 24 ofthe chain may be slack, as.indicated in Figure 3, whereby the spring 2S connected to theupper endofl the brake Ylever LIE,` may swing the brake lever I2 into theposition shown in Figure l, thereby to automatically set the-braketbandand retard or interruptf rotation of thefhcisting drum3. '1`f jf Ifdesiredthebrake may be. instantly released..

4 at any time by actuation of the solenoid 31, aS will be readilyunderstood.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplishedat least the principal objects of my invention, and it will also beapparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments hereindescribed may be variously changed and modified without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and that the invention is vcapable of usesand has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will beappreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only,and that my invention is not limited thereto. I claim as myinvention: 1. A power unit-comprising a support, a hoisting drummountedthereon and provided with a brake drum, a brake band partiallyencircling the brake drum and having one end anchored to a fixedsupport, a counter shaft, a flexible endless member for transmittingpower from the. counter Shaft 'to the brakedru'm; an automobile, startermotor for driving the counter shaft,v La rock shaft having an armsecured thereto, one endiof which is connected to the free end ofthefbrake band, a second arm secured to the rock shaft and having aroller mountedv at the free end thereof, the roller on said second' armhaving a `running connection with a run of the flexible drive memberwhereby when said run is taut, said second arm is actuated to rotate therock shaft whereby the brake band is automatically released from thebrake drum, and spring means constantly urging the roller into contactwith the run of said drive member and whereby when fsaid run lis slack,the spring means will automatically set the brake.

2. A power unit comprisinga support, a hoisting drum mounted thereon andyprovided with 'a brake drum, a brake band partially 'encircling thebrake drum and having one endV anchored to a fixed support, a countershaft, v,an endless drive member for transmitting DOWer fromthe 'countershaftto the brake drum, an automobile starter motor for drivingthecounter shaft,aA rock shaft, a brakev lever mounted on therock shaft,Yan arm secured to the rock' shaft and having' one end operativelyconnectedV to the free` end of, the brake, band, a second yarmseycuredjto the .rock shaft in opposed relationto. the rst mentionedarm, a roller'mounted at the outerend of, 'd second arm and havingarunning conn,ection with a run of the endlessdrive rnernber'wlferebyWhen Said ril-,r1 is taut Sailsond arm is actuated to rotatethe-rckshaft and thejrebyecer the release of the brake bandv from` theprakt-:fy drum, and Swirlsv meansH constantlyiureicg the .brake lever ina diretion'lto Setth brake; said brake lever Providing means, whereby.an'operater' may manually manipulate thefblakjto, co, ro 't rotation cfthe Winding drum; I

i 3,- 1A power' uriit cmpisnsiasupporta intk drum mounted thereon` andiarovidedpwith brake firme;A a brake band partiallyenirclne the brakel.drum and havinfey Drie. endanchoredgto n edsu'ppprt, ak counter shaft,a chain'drive for transmitting pcwer'from the countershaftfto thehoisting-drur'n,V an automobile s tarterfmotor for driving the countershaft, a rock shaftna brake lever fixedly` mounted on the. rock schaft,anjarmV securedlvto the rock shaft and .having a wnceenonycth the brakeband, secondjafi secured .toV the frock shaft, a roller,mountl the outerend Vor said second armanchayi running connection with ar run of the vdrwhereby when saidl l chain run -is taut, lt

is actuated to partially rotate the rock shaft whereby the brake band isexpanded to release the hoisting drum, a spring constantly urging theroller into contact with the run of said drive element whereby when saidrun is slack the spring will rotate the rock shaft in the oppositedirection and thereby automatically set the brake,

said brake lever providing means whereby an operator may manuallymanipulate the brake to control the rotation of the Winding drum, andelectric means associated with the brake lever for electrically movingsaid lever into brake releasing position.

EDGAR E. HET'I'EEN.

